Aussies 'devastated' with pursuit defeat

Australia's Josephine Tomic admitted she was "devastated" as dreams of an Olympic team pursuit medal were quashed by Canada.

Australia just missed out on qualifying for the gold medal match, later won by record-setting Great Britain ahead of the United States, and went on to fight Canada for the bronze.

And more woe was to come for the Australian quartet, who in the years leading up to the Games had become Britain's biggest challengers.

"I feel absolutely devastated," Tomic said.

"We left everything on the track so we can walk away with no regrets.

"Just three teams went faster than us on the day.

"Our coach trained us to perfection and we did a pb (personal best) in the first round, so what can we do?"

Annette Edmondson will aim to make amends in the women's omnium, but she admitted the team's first-round ride had perhaps cost it a medal.

"Our first ride was the fastest we have ever done. We know we have been doing the right things and we couldn't have asked more from that ride, but I think it took it out of us for the final," Edmondson said.

"As you can imagine we are all feeling upset to come away empty-handed, but we know we gave everything."

Great Britain rode 3:14.051 to set its third world record for the event at the Games.

Meanwhile, Australia's Shane Perkins progressed to the quarter-finals of the men's sprint.

Perkins progressed despite crossing the finish line in second place behind Venezuela's Hersony Canelon in their second-round heat.

Canelon was relegated for an infringement during the final lap, allowing Perkins to move through to the last eight.

Perkins will be joined by Beijing silver medallist Jason Kenny of Great Britain, along with France's three-time world champion Gregory Bauge, Njisane Phillip of Trinidad, Russia's Denis Dmitriev and American firefighter Jimmy Watkins.

Germany's Robert Forstemann and Azizulhashi Awang of Malaysia also made the quarter-finals via the repechage.

And in the men's omnium, Australia's Glenn O'Shea sits in third position behind France's Bryan Coquard and Italy's Elia Viviani.

O'Shea picked up three points (the less points the better) in the elimination race after being the third-last rider knocked out.

Coquard won the race and leads the overall competition on 10 points.

Viviani has 13 and O'Shea 14.

Tomorrow morning (AEST) the riders take on the 4km individual pursuit, 15km scratch race and the 1km time trial in the race for gold.